Most of the vacuums on our list feature a runtime of 40 minutes before needing another charge, though a growing number of models are starting to offer higher-capacity batteries with runtimes of 60 minutes per charge. In truth, it’s a rare occasion that bissell cordless vacuum one would need more than 40 minutes of runtime for a single vacuuming session, and the prevalence of charging docks makes it easy to recharge in between cleaning runs. Because of this, battery life was not weighted as heavily as other features.
This robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying base that can store up to 45 days of debris. It’s designed with a self-cleaning brushroll to prevent pet hair from creating blockages and offers powerful suction. Once you pair the Wi-Fi-enabled vacuum with the companion app, you can control it from your phone as well as with voice assistants. From there we can calculate the percentage of dirt and debris pickup for every run and the average amount of soil a vacuum manages to remove. Additionally, we run anecdotal (visual) pet hair tests for each vacuum, on all three floor types, to help us select the best cordless vacuum. When cleaning is finished, you can stash the thing away on its wall-mounted charging dock.
A sealed vacuum with HEPA filtration may be the best option to ensure you’re trapping allergens such as dust mites, pet hair, dander, pollen and more without releasing them into the air. Another important factor behind why we chose the vacuums that made the list was maintenance ease. With the exception of the Miele, all the vacuums selected are bagless. They’re more cost-effective because you don’t need to buy vacuum bags regularly. Instead, you simply drop the contents into the wastebin when you’re done. Plus, the canisters (and in many cases, the filters) could be rinsed out if they appear to be extra dirty.
That said, cordless vacuums do take a beating and you shouldn’t expect any model to last much longer than five years if used regularly. As you can see, the black rice test is less of a challenge than the sand test, and a number of the vacuums we tested, including the top-rated Tineco Pure One S11, finished with a perfect rating across all three surfaces. Interestingly, that shortlist of perfect-rated cleaners includes two of our value picks, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro and the Moosoo XL-618. Neither one was a standout with sand (in fact, the Moosoo model was among the worst in those tests), but with larger crumbs at least, both are perfectly capable. To measure the results, we weigh the vacuum’s dust bin both before and after each run.
The Dyson and Tineco models we tested each offer two years of coverage, as does the Samsung Bespoke Jet, though Samsung only offers a single year for its Jet 75 and Jet 90 cleaners. The Dyson and Tineco models all have bin volumes of about 0.6 liter, which is fairly common across the category. Our alternate budget pick, the Moosoo XL-618, has double that capacity (1.3 liters) so you’ll need to empty the bin less often.
It’s a great option for households with pets that need the extra suction power to clear pet hair. According to Dyson, it has twice the suction power than other cordless vacuums and an upgrade of 20% more suction power than the previous Cyclone V10 vacuum model. It includes a Dynamic Load Sensor (DLS) system that can automatically sense surfaces to change motor speeds, depending on whether you’re cleaning bare floors or carpets. Although it handles most cleaning tasks automatically, you can control the suction power by choosing from auto, boost and Eco mode. When I bought my Tineco vacuum, I realized how much value there is in investing in a high quality model specifically designed with pets in mind.
Suction power and overall cleaning performance is based on the vacuum’s airflow, which relies on good filtration and the vacuum cleaner’s design. If you’re in search of a light-use vacuum for quick clean-ups and bare-floor touch-ups, the Bissell Featherweight Stick or Dyson V11 Animal are the easiest to operate. For pet hair or homes where allergies are an issue, Dyson’s V11 or Shark S2 Navigator both offer a high level of filtration, trapping 99.99% of particles. We looked for vacuums that had the most customer reviews for their ability to powerfully clean surfaces.
If you’d prefer to have a spare battery on hand, it’ll cost you an extra $90, which is at least $60 less than you’d spend for a second battery from Dyson or Samsung. Miele is made in Germany, and the company has been producing powerful, reliable vacuums for years. The C1 is on the traditional side — it requires vacuum bags and doesn’t come with flashy features such as LED displays or clear parts. It can be too much when you’re vacuuming a deep pile carpet, but you can adjust the strength by turning the six-setting rotary dial.
The vacuum has a 35-foot cord and its construction allows you to easily swivel around furniture, according to the brand. The appliance offers three cleaning modes that adjust suction power for different floor types. This corded Dirt Devil model is one of the most affordable vacuums we recommend.